Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani attended the funeral prayer of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer at the Governor House on Wednesday. Besides other party stalwarts, Interior Minister, Rehman Malik and Federal Law Minister, Dr Babar Awan were also present on the occasion. President Asif Ali Zardari could not attend funeral prayers due to some security reasons, said party sources.
Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and some leaders of religious parties, clerics were not present. Some of religious party leaders refused to attend funeral prayers because of Taseer's stance against the religious parties over the country's blasphemy laws.
The party ministers from central and provincial government, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, party workers, notables of the town and close friends of the late Governor were also present. Governor Punjab, Salmaan Taseer was gunned down on Tuesday by one of his security guards at Kohsar market in Islamabad. The guard who surrendered immediately after killing him reportedly said he shot the governor because of his recent criticism of the blasphemy laws.
His body was brought to the city last night from Islamabad. It was kept at his cavalry ground residence first of all and then taken to the Governor House for the funeral prayers. A good number of female party workers were present. Scores of party workers were not able to gain access to the ground due to tight security. Workers of Pakistan Peoples Party chanted slogans and blamed the opposition Punjab government for not providing adequate security to the governor.